Seed Storage

[iShatterBladderz]

I’ve been doing research on the best way to store seeds, and I decided to get a mini-fridge specifically for my seeds. I went to the local pet supply store and bought a bag of silica gel, I was going to put the silica gel in a glass, lightproof, airtight container i have, and then just put the seeds still in their original packaging inside the jar. Before doing this, i wanted to test and make sure that this would be an adequate method, and so i threw a hygrometer in the jar with about 5g of silica gel and left it in the mini fridge overnight.

when i pulled it out this morning, the humidity was in the high 60’s inside the jar, so I added more silica to see if maybe I had not included enough in the jar. Now the humidity inside the jar has shot up to 90%. Is there something I am missing here? Shouldn’t the silica gel be absorbing the humidity and bringing levels down?

 

[Nutbag Poster]

I’ve been doing research on the best way to store seeds, and I decided to get a mini-fridge specifically for my seeds. I went to the local pet supply store and bought a bag of silica gel, I was going to put the silica gel in a glass, lightproof, airtight container i have, and then just put the seeds still in their original packaging inside the jar. Before doing this, i wanted to test and make sure that this would be an adequate method, and so i threw a hygrometer in the jar with about 5g of silica gel and left it in the mini fridge overnight.

when i pulled it out this morning, the humidity was in the high 60’s inside the jar, so I added more silica to see if maybe I had not included enough in the jar. Now the humidity inside the jar has shot up to 90%. Is there something I am missing here? Shouldn’t the silica gel be absorbing the humidity and bringing levels down?

That does seem weird. Perhaps the silica is fully saturated with water already. Maybe finding a way to let it sit in a low humidity environment for a while to dry out will fix things. I want to say put it in an oven at a LOW temperature but I'm not positive that's a good plan.

 

[TravisG13]

Wow thats a lot for seed storage, ive been using a pill bottle with the dessicant things that came in the bottle for years and the seeds keep sprouting



Used up all the seeds that were in small ziplocks in there but I dont know what those seed company packages are

 

[Nutbag Poster]

Another thing to consider is that relative humidity will rise as air cools. If you seal up an empty jar at room temperature and humidity and then put it in your fridge, the relative humidity will rise considerably. The silica may need a little time to soak up that "new-found" moisture.

 

[Nutbag Poster]

This is a good reminder that I should double check to see that my method is still working but I use rice. I put it in an oven at around 150-175 degrees and get it bone dry and then seal it up hot out of the oven (before it has a chance to soak up moisture from the room humidity). Once it's cooled in the jar you've got a makeshift dessicant. I pour a bunch of that rice in the bottom of the tin I keep my seeds in. I avoid keeping lids open for any period of time after that to keep my rice from soaking up room moisture.